Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that the government has no choice but to seek a bailout package from International Monetary Fund (IMF). "If I were the prime minister, I would have also approached the IMF," the railways minister said while talking to the media on Wednesday after opening inaugurating Thal Express that is scheduled to ply between Rawalpindi and Multan via Taxila, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, and Muzaffargarh.
The minister said that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Pakistan will bring historic investment to the country. He said that senior citizens above the age of 70 years are being provided with facility of free travel. The minister also announced to add 20 more new trains in the fleet of Pakistan Railways in the next three months, adding that 365 acres have been acquired for Gwadar railway station.
The Pakistan Railways had suspended Thal Train service in 2008 due to financial losses and shortage of locomotives. The people can travel free-of-cost in the train on the first day and Sheikh Rashid was on board as well. He vowed to expand railways track to serve the poor. The fast train would reduce at least three hours travel time between Multan and Rawalpindi. Thal Express would ply between Rawalpindi and Multan via Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Bhakkar, Kundian and Mianwali. The minister said that work is under way to run two VIP trains, Jinnah Express and Sir Syed Express, which would be launched during the next month.
The minister said that 40 more people, who are dons in politics and have looted the country, are in a queue to go to jail. Criticising the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the minister said that the former government took kickbacks in the railways department. He termed Sharif brothers "dons of the past" and alleged that the corrupt mafia looted the country brutally.